Wahawk Athletics

After a successful teaching assignment as History Teacher at Washington High School, in Vinton, IA, Jeff Frost joined the Waterloo Community Schools, serving as Administrative Assistant at Waterloo West High School. During this period Jeff re-engaged the Student Senate, supporting increased student activities, fundraisers, and school involvement. Jeff also was instrumental in changes to the Homecoming Week at West. A Homecoming Bonfire and a Parade were added to the week of festivities, which now are main stays of the week long Homecoming festivities.

In June, 2003, Jeff was named Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at Waterloo West. As he did while an Administrative Assistant, Jeff has worked hard to rejuvenate the athletic environment at West and restore the storied traditions of Wahawk Athletics. Some of the many changes that have occurred include the following:

Athletic Department

·   Established financial solvency and accepted accounting procedures to the Athletic Department Budget

·   Developed a three-year strategic plan which included yearly themes around the goals to be achieved

·   Secured Fundraising relationships with businesses and individuals to support ongoing athletic needs

Coaches Development

·   Coaches Development Program encouraging continuous improvement

·   Informal Summative Coaches Evaluation which is completed annually

·   New Coaches Mentoring Program to assist 1^st year coaches

·   Monthly Coaches Information Bulletin to provide consistent communication to all

·   Monthly Coaches’ Breakfast to foster communication, friendships and information sharing

·   Coaches’ Retreat in Summer to build comradery and friendship among the coaching staff

Athlete Development

·   Established a Coaches Development Program encouraging continuous improvement

·   Promoted universal year-round strength and conditioning for all athletes and programs

~   Established athlete off-season conditioning recommendations

·   Developed a summer Excel program for athletes during the summer of 2008

·   Instituted Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to encourage leadership and community involvement

Facility Development

·   Supported upgrades to sport facilities on the West Campus:

~   Reconstructed practice football field and installed all-weather 6-lane practice track

~   major upgrades School softball complex

~   Upgrades to the Baseball complex

~   Constructed Indoor Hitting Facility for Baseball, Softball & Golf

·   Completed renovation of existing West High School athletic facilities:

~   New Strength and Conditioning Room, including $100,000 of strength equipment

~   New Player Meeting Room, with state of the art multimedia system

~   New Locker Rooms (4) & Coaches’ Offices (2)

~   New Athletic Trainer Room, to provide permanent facility for athlete rehab and care

~   Reconstructed Boys’ and Girls’ PE Locker Rooms

·   Upgrade Wahawk Hall of Fame:

~   Dan Gable Hall of Fame (at the entrance of Siddens Gymnasium), including a life-size sculpture and pictures of Dan Gable

~   Elite Wahawk Coaches Hall of Fame

~   Elite Athletes Hall of Fame

~   New 2^nd floor Hall of Fame Display area, with Trophy Cases, Hall of Fame Plaques, and special recognition of Wahawk Professional Athletes

Wahawk Athletics Support

·   Established National Wahawk Club, with Monthly Newsletter to members

·   Hosted Return of the Legends event to recognize past Wahawk greats, and to help revitalize the storied Wahawk Athletics tradition

·   Honored past Wahawk Coaches by renaming major Wahawk events with their names

~   Gordy Yuska Wahawk Track Invitational, Eileen Beninga Wahawk Volleyball Classic

·   Assisted in establishing The Wahawk Foundation, to support and promote successful Wahawk Athletics

·   Wahawk athletes, teams and coaches have also been recognized for some special awards during this:  

·   2006-07  (4) MVC Coach of the Year winners

·   2007-08  Awarded Cliff Brees MVC Sportsmanship Trophy for Spring Sports

·   2007-08  Achieved highest finish in MVC Boys’ Overall Team Standings
              (2^nd place - 2 points out of 1^st)

·   2007-08  (5) MVC Sports Championships

Its safe to say that Jeff’s Frost’s efforts and vision of returning Wahawk Athletics to past success levels are beginning to become a reality. With each new school year, you can be assured that Waterloo West High School’s Athletic Director will actively working to make Wahawk sports one of the best in the State of Iowa.